ALLE'VIATE, verb transitive [Low Latin allevio; ad and levo, to raise, levis, light.] 1. To make light; but always in a figurative sense, as it is not applied to material objects. To remove in part; to lessen, mitigate, or make easier to be endured; applied to evils; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care, punishment, a burden, etc.; opposed to aggravate. 2. To make less by representation; to lessen the magnitude or criminality; to extenuate; applied to moral conduct; as, to alleviate an offense. [This sense of the word is rare.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI